A FORMER garage owner died after he was hit by a car while crossing a road behind a bus.

Robert Jones, 61, of Boduan, Pwllheli, was hit by a red Peugeot on the A497 shortly after 10pm on Friday September 3 last year – just yards from his home.

An inquest at Caernarfon heard Mr Jones had been on the bus to Pwllheli with friends and had drunk “two or three pints of cider”.

The car driver, William Arthur Williams, of Edern, Pwllheli, said he’d gone for a spin towards Pwllheli with his friend Jake Brownrigg in a car he’d only just bought.

He said: “I just thought I had hit an animal. I didn’t see it to be honest. I think it happened because he crossed the road. Perhaps he didn’t see me.”

Front seat passenger Mr Brownrigg said: “The deceased ran out from behind the bus as we were going past. We had no chance to do anything. All I saw was him hit my side of the car and bounce off.”

Police accident investigator Pc Gordon Saynor said Mr Williams was driving at a speed of “not less than 60mph”. Pc Saynor said the collision was “unavoidable” and the flare from the bus’ lights could have affected Mr Williams’ sight.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, North West Wales coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said Mr Jones had suffered an “horrific brain injury” and died nearly two months later on October 30 at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor of bronchial pneumonia, due to his immobility caused by the road accident.